Amanda N. Heath

The Honorable Amanda N. Heath

Treasurer, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

The Honorable Amanda N. Heath is a Superior Court Judge in the Augusta Judicial Circuit. Her jurisdiction covers Burke and Richmond counties and she presides over civil, domestic, and felony criminal cases. Judge Heath was appointed by Governor Brian P. Kemp on October 13, 2021, and was elected by her community in 2022 to continue her service on the Superior Court bench. At the time of her election, Judge Heath was the first African American woman to be elected as a Superior Court Judge in the Augusta Circuit’s 152-year history. Judge Heath is currently the only African American Superior Court Judge and is the youngest judge in the Augusta Judicial Circuit. Prior to elevating to the Superior Court bench, Judge Heath served as a juvenile court judge for five years, and was the first African American woman to serve in that position.

As a juvenile court judge, Judge Heath was innovative as she administered justice from the bench. Her goal was to hold children accountable for their actions — not to hold them hostage. In addition, she ensured that families were connected with community resources to reduce the need for child protective services involvement and promote safe and stable families. Judge Heath is passionate about developing and implementing trauma-informed practices to adjudicate cases involving youth who are at high risk or have been exploited through human sex trafficking.

Judge Heath was previously a solo practitioner with a focus on civil, criminal, and family law. Prior to opening her law practice, Judge Heath prosecuted violent felonies as an assistant district attorney and argued successfully before the Georgia Supreme Court. She also served as the lead prosecutor for Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Veterans Court. Her family taught her “to whom much is given, much will be required” and to take every opportunity to give back to the community through service.

Judge Heath is a graduate of Hampton University and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology, summa cum laude, in 2007. She is also a graduate of Hampton’s Freddye T. Davy Honors College and is an alumna of the concert choir. In 2017, Judge Heath was inducted into Hampton’s Top Forty Under Forty Society.

Judge Heath went on to attend law school at Mercer University and received her Juris Doctor degree in 2010 with a Certificate in advanced legal writing, research, and drafting. In addition, she received the Dean’s Award for Distinguished Service. She participated in Mercer’s Habeas Clinic and was inducted into the Order of Barristers. Judge Heath volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and with the Georgia Supreme Court Committee on Access and Fairness in the Courts. Further, she is a previous Mercer Public Interest Fellow, Georgia Legal Services Dan Bradley Fellow, Gate City Bar Scholar, and Otis Redding Scholar.

Judge Heath serves on the Georgia Supreme Court Committee for Justice for Children and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia. Judge Heath was elected in 2023 by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges to serve on the board of directors in the position of treasurer. Also, Judge Heath was elected as the first woman and first African American to represent Augusta on the Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia. Judge Heath serves on the National Bar Association Judicial Council Executive Committee and the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem Association for Children Judicial Leadership Council. In 2022 Judge Heath received the Georgia CASA Champion Award.